Plaque holder and blank



Dec. 27, 1938. v D, KAHN 2,141,991

PLAQUE HOLDER AND BLANK Filed Jan. 7, 1938 Patented Dec. 27, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT UFFEE PLAQUE HOLDER AND BLANK Application January '7,

16 Claims.

The present invention relates to means for holding blocks or plaques having letters or other indicia or ornaments displayed thereon, the device being preferably termed a plaque holder.

The invention further relates to means for securing such a plaque holder in position on an article.

Still further, the invention relates to a combination of such a plaque holder and the plaques held thereby.

The present application is a continuation in part of my prior applications, Serial Nos. 108,268, filed October 29, 1936, now Patent No. 2,094,796; 115,428, filed December 11, 1936, now Patent No. 2,094,797; and 133,913, filed March 30, 1937.

The invention also relates to the method of forming such plaque holders from sheet material and to blanks from which plaque holders are formed.

Furthermore, the invention relates to modifications and improvements in the plaque holding means disclosed in the application of David Kahn, for patent on Writing instrument clip, filed October 29, 1936, Serial No. 108,268, and the application of David Kahn for patent on Writing instrument clip, filed December 11, 1936, Serial No. 115,428.

One important object of the invention is to provide an improved form of plaque holder wherein the construction is of extreme simplicity.

A second important object of the invention is to provide a novel and simple plaque holder formed from a single sheet metal stamping.

A third important object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved form of plaque holder and securing means therefor wherein the holder and securing means are formed integrally from a single sheet metal stamping.

A fourth important object of the invention is to provide a device of the kind set forth wherein the sheet metal employed in the formation of the article will have that character of resiliency which will allow the metal to yield or flex for the insertion of plaques and will cause it to spring back to normal form upon cessation of the stresses due to such plaque insertion.

A fifth important object of the invention is the provision of a novel sheet metal blank from which such plaque holders may be formed.

A sixth important object of the invention is to provide a novel combination of plaque and plaque holder, wherein the conformation of the parts is such as to effect a secure interlocking when a plaque is placed in the plaque holder.

With the above and other objects in view, as

1938, Serial No. 133,913

will be presently apparent, the invention consists in general of the provision of a novel form of sheet metal blank for forming plaque holders and also certain novel details of construction and arrangements and formations of parts of the plaque holders and the associated plaques, all as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, like characters indicate like parts in the several views, and:

Figure 1 is an enlarged plan view of the blank from which one form of the plaque holder is made.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary face View of the plaque holder as applied to a Writing implement, the latter being shown in dotted lines.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 44 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary section similar to the upper part of Figure 3, but showing a modification of the means whereby the plaque holder is secured to the writing implement.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the blank from which a second form of the plaque holder is made.

Figure 7 is a face view of the formed plaque holder of this second modification, one of the plaques being shown as inserted therein.

Figure 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a detail section on the line 9-9 of Figure 7 particularly illustrating a modification wherein the entire saddle is depressed below the remainder of the plaque holder.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 5, the device is intended for use in connection with a writing implement such as a mechanical pencil or a fountain pen. In this form the blank is provided with a body portion l0 of generally rectangular form and having parallel side edges II. From one end of the body l9 extends a tongue l2 of taperingly decreasing form and provided with inwardly or convexly curved side edges i3. Adjacent its free extremity this tongue is provided with a pair of oppositely disposed ball forming tabs it each defined from the tongue by a rectilinear fold line l5 and having its outer edge 96 of substantially semi-circular contour as here shown, but it is to be understood that the contour of the edges l6 are not necessarily semicircular but may be of any desired form. The tongue projects beyond these tabs M, as shown at I and the length of this projecting portion is preferably equal to the length of the edge I6 of one of the tabs, or it may be of somewhat less length. Projecting from the other end of the blank is a neck It of less width than the body In, the reduction of the neck forming shoulders I 9 at the junction of the neck and body H1. The neck l8 taperingly widens from the body, the neck having inwardly curved or convex side edges 26 to this end. This neck merges upwardly into a circular head 2| having a concentric circular opening 22 formed therein to provide a narrow annulus 23. Extending parallel to the side edges H and forming continuations of the edge lines of the neck, there is indicated a pair of fold lines 24 which merge at their lower ends into curved fold lines 25 which taperingly approach and merge into the side edges |3 of the tongue. Longitudinal slits 26 are cut in the body |0 parallel to the edges II, and these slits are located between the fold lines 24 but are spaced close thereto, the slits being at equal distances from the respective fold lines. The slits 26 are of less length than the body l9 and terminate at their ends in spaced relation to the ends of the body. Each slit has at each end an inwardly directed extension 21, the extensions of the pair of slits being alined with each other at the respective slit ends. Thus these slits provide a pair of side portions 28 each severed at its ends and one side from the remainder of the blank. The formation of the slits also provides a central portion 29 connected at its ends integrally with the remainder of the body and at its sides integrally with the portions 28. This portion 29 may, for convenience, be termed a saddle portion and the portions 28 may similarly be termed saddle skirts, as will be presently understood.

In forming the plaque holder from this blank.

certain operations are effected and these operations may be performed in a single dieing operation either simultaneously with the punching of the blank from their sheet metal or after such punching. Also, all the bending operations incident to forming the blank into a complete plaque holder may be performed either simultaneously or in series and in any desiredor convenient order. Accordingly, the steps of forming now to be described are not to be understood as taken separately or in any particular order. To form the holder from the blank, the sides H and portions outside the fold lines 25 are bent down at the fold lines 24 and 25 to form a channel-like structure having side flanges 30, as in Figures 3 and 4. The skirts 28 are likewise pressed doWnwardly so that their side edges lie below the upper edges of the sides 30, and. in spaced relation thereto forming beads 32 lying in the general plane of the body ID. The skirts 28 and saddle 29 are transversely curved with the convex side uppermost. The head 23 is bent to lie substantially at a right angle to the general plane of the remainder of the device, this bending being in such direction that the head lies on the same side of the body H! as do the flanges 3!]. The tabs M are bent on the fold lines I 5 to lie in parallelism on the same side of the body as the head and the extension H are bent to conform to and lie between the peripheral portions of the tabs l4, thus forming a ball 3|. This completes the formation of the plaque holder.

Each plaque consists of a preferably rectangular metal plate 33 having a suitable character or ornament displayed thereon as at '34. Each plaque is curved transversely on a uniform radius of curvature substantially less than the radius of tive of any suitable means for the purpose.

curvature of the saddle 29 and skirts 28 so that, as shown in Figure 4, a space 35 is provided between the saddle and the plaque when the latter is held in the plaque holder. By this means, the plaques are securely held between the upper edge portions of the skirts 28 and the beads 32. It is to be particularly noted that the respective curvatures provide for the insertion of the plaque by forcing it toward the saddle between the beads 32 without interference by the middle of the saddle engaging the under side of the plaque. Each plaque is thus slightly greater in width than the distance between the beads 32.

At 31 is disclosed a portion of the barrel or cap of a writing implement such as a pen or pencil, and this barrel or cap has an open upper end 38. The diameter of the head 2| is preferably equal to the outer diameter of the upper end of the barrel or cap and the diameter of the opening 22 is preferably equal to the inner diameter of such barrel or cap. Thereby the annulus 23 fits on the open end 38 in registry therewith. A plug 39 having a head 40 extends through the opening 22 into the barrel or cap with the head engaging the annulus 23, as in Figure 3. In Figure 5, the barrel or cap 31a is internally threaded and the plug 39a is correspondingly threaded. In the form shown in Fig ures 6, 7 and 8, the blank from which the plaque holder is formed consists of a thin elongated rectangular metal plate 4| having a slit 42 extending parallel to each side edge 43 of the blank. The slits 42 terminate at each end in spaced relation to the blank. At each end of each slit, there is provided an inwardly extending cut 44, the cuts extending from one slit being alined with the cuts extending from the other slit. This arrangement provides, as before, a pair of saddle skirts 45 and a central saddle portion 46. At the solid ends 4'! the blank is provided with means to enable it to be secured to an article and in the form here shown, such means comprises rivet holes 48. However, these rivet holes are indica- In forming the plaque holder from this blank, the skirts 45 and saddle 46 are transversely curved so as to depress the skirts below the general plane of the body 4|. In this form the distance between the slits 42 is also less than the width of the plaque 35, the same plaque being used in both forms. In this form the sides 49 of the blank are also left fiat to lie in the plane of the ends. Also the radius of the saddle 46 and skirts 45 is greater than the radius of the plaque 35 so that the side edges of the plaque lie, when assembled, below the sides 49 and are held in place by the side edge portions of the skirts 45 to leave a clearance space 50 between the saddle 46 and central portion of the plaque as in the first form and for the same purpose.

As shown in Figures 7 and 9, the plaque holding portions of these devices are preferably provided at each end with a groove 5| having an inclined bottom merging at its outer end into the surface of the end 4"! and at its deepest part into the surface of the saddle 46. By this means, if it is desired to remove a plaque, a sharp-pointed implement such as a common pin or needle may have its point entered in the notch and moved to a position beneath the adjacent edge of the plaque and then used as a lever to pry the plaque upwardly from its engagement with the plaque holder.

What is claimed is:- V

1. In combination, a plaque holder having a body provided with a central saddle and skirt portion and a pair of side portions, said skirt portions being free at their ends and one side and the side edge portions of said skirts being depressed below the general plane of the body, and said side portions extending above the plane of the free edges of the skirts, and a plaque consisting of a. metal plate curved transversely to have its side edges held between the side portions of said plaque holder and the side edge portions of the skirts, the curvature being such as to provide a clearance space between said saddle and the central portion of the plaque.

2. In combination, a plaque holder having a body provided with a central saddle and skirt portion and a pair of side portions, said skirt portions being free at their ends and one side and the side edge portions of said skirts being depressed below the general plane of the body, and said side portions extending above the plane of the free edges of the skirts, and a plaque consisting of a metal plate curved transversely to have its side edges held between the side portions of said plaque holder and the side edge portions of the skirts, said saddle and skirts being curved transversely with the radius of curvature greater than the radius of curvature of the plaque.

3. In combination, a plaque holder having a body portion provided along its sides with a pair of U-shaped slits and having the material adjacent the slits bent out of the plane of the body, interchangeable plaques each having a body and side portions, the side portions of the plaques being constructed and arranged for interlocking engagement upon the plaques being positioned on the body between the bent portions and the body, said plaques being curved transversely to provide clearance between the body and the middle portions of the plaques, and a clip tongue projecting from one end of said holder.

4:. In combination, a plaque holder having a body portion provided along its sides with a pair of U-shaped slits and having the material adjacent the slits bent out of the plane of the body, interchangeable plaques each having a body and side portions, the side portions of the plaques being constructed and arranged for interlocking engagement upon the plaques being positioned on the body between the bent portions and the body, means at the ends of the holder body engaging certain of the plaques and holding them against longitudinal movement, said plaques being curved transversely to provide clearance between the body and the middle portions of the plaques, and a clip tongue projecting from one end of said holder.

5. In combination, a plaque holder having a body provided with a central saddle and skirt portion and a pair of side portions, said skirt portions being free at their ends and one side and the edge portions of said skirts being depressed below the general plane of the body, and said side portions extending above the plane of the free edges of the skirts, and a plaque consisting of a metal plate curved transversely to have its side edges held between the side portions of said plaque holder and the side edge portions of the skirts, said plaque holder being provided at least at one end with means for receiving a securing element for securing the holder to an object, the curvature being such as to provide a clearance space between said saddle and the central portion of the plaque.

6. In combination, a plaque holder having a body provided with a central saddle and skirt portion and a, pair of side portions, said skirt portions being free at their ends and one side and the side edge portions of said skirts being depressed below the general plane of the body, said side portions extending above the plane of the free edges of the skirts, a plaque consisting of a metal plate curved transversely to have its side edges held between the side portions of said plaque holder and the side edge portions of the skirts, said plaque holder being provided at least at one end with means for receiving a securing element for securing the holder to an object, said saddle and skirts being curved transversely with the radius of curvature greater than the radius of curvature of the plaque.

'7. In combination, a plaque holder having a body portion provided along its sides with a pair of U-shaped slits and having the material adjacent the slits bent out of the plane of the body, interchangeable plaques each having a body and side portions, the side portions of the plaques being constructed and arranged for interlocking engagement upon the plaques being positioned on the body between the bent portions and the body, said plaques being curved transversely to provide clearance between the body and the middle portions of the plaques, a clip tongue projecting from one end of said holder, and means at one end of said body for receiving a fastening element.

8. In combination, a plaque holder having a body portion provided along its sides with a pair of U-shaped slits and having the material adjacent the slits bent out of the plane of the body, interchangeable plaques each having a body and side portions, the side portions of the plaques being constructed and arranged for interlocking engagement upon the plaques being positioned on the body between the bent portions and the body, means at the ends of the holder body engaging certain of the plaques and holding them against longitudinal movement, said plaques being curved transversely to provide clearance between the body and the middle portions of the plaques, a clip tongue projecting from one end of said holder, and means at one end of said body for receiving a fastening element.

9. In combination, a plaque holder body having a central portion partially severed at its edges from the remainder of the body and of transversely curved shape to constitute a saddle, and a plaque of greater width than said saddle and having its side edge portions resting on the side edge portions of the saddle and engaged between the saddle edge portions and the portions of the body adjacent the sides of said saddle.

10. In combination, a plaque holder having a saddle comprising a central portion and a free skirt portion, a side edge spaced from said skirt portion, a plaque having a radius of curvature less than said saddle and having its side edge held between said free skirt portion and the aforementioned side edge of said plaque holder, and its central portion spaced from the central portion of said saddle.

11. In combination, a plaque holder having a body provided along its sides with a pair of U- shaped slits and having the material adjacent the slits bent out of the plane of the body, interchangeable plaques each having a body and side portions, the side portions of the plaques being constructed and arranged for interlocking engagement upon the plaques being positioned on the body between the bent portions and the body, said plaques being curved transversely to provide clearance between the body and the middle portions of the plaques, a clip tongue projecting from one end of said holder, and means 1 at one end of said body for receiving a fastening element, said means comprising a neck portion projecting from the end of the body remote from said clip tongue and an annular head extending from said neck.

12. A combination clip and plaque holder for instruments formed of a single integral piece of sheet metal, comprising a plaque holding portion and an elongated relatively resilient clip portion, and means for attaching said combination plaque holder and clip to an instrument, said last mentioned means extending from one of said portions and being constructed and arranged to extend into and be permanently secured to said instrument, said plaque holding portion having an opening therein forming a retaining seat for an initial plaque, means to retain said initial plaque in said seat, said attaching means comprising an annular head at one end of the plaque holding portion for receiving a fastening element.

13. A combination clip and plaque holder for instruments formed of a single integral piece of sheet metal, comprising a plaque holding portion and an elongated relatively resilient clip portion, and means for attaching said combination plaque holder and clip to an instrument, said last mentioned means extending from one of said portions and being constructed and arranged to extend into and be permanently secured to said instrument, said plaque holding portion having a portion thereof struck out of the plane of the plaque holding portionto form a retaining seat for an initial plaque, means to retain an initial plaque in said seat, said attaching means comprising an annular head at one end of the plaque holding portion for receiving a fastening element.

14. A combination clip and plaque holder for instruments formed of a single-integral piece of sheet metal, comprising a plaque holding portion and an elongated relatively resilient clip portion, and means for attaching said combination plaque holder and clip to an instrument, said last mentioned means extending from one of said portions and being constructed and arranged to extend into and be permanently secured to said instrument, said plaque holding portion having an opening therein forming a retaining seat for an initial plaque, means to retain said initial plaque in said seat, and means opening beneath the initial plaque to facilitate removal thereof from the plaque holder.

15. A combination clip and plaque holder for instruments formed of a single integral piece of sheet metal, comprising a plaque holding portion and an elongated relatively resilient clip portion, and means for attaching said combination plaque holder and clip to an instrument, said last mentioned means extending from one of said portions and being constructed and arranged to extend into and be permanently secured to said instrument, said plaque holding portion having a portion thereof struck out of the plane of the plaque holding portion to form a retaining seat for an initial plaque, means to retain an initial plaque in said seat, and means opening beneath the initial plaque to facilitate removal thereof from the plaque holder.

16. In combination, a plaque holder and clip for instruments formed of a single integral piece of sheet metal comprising a plaque holding portion and an elongated relatively resilient clip portion, and means for attaching said combination plaque holder and clip to an instrument, said last mentioned means extending fromv one of said portions and being constructed and arranged to extend into and be permanently secured to said instrument, said plaque holding portion having a portion thereof struck out of the plane of the plaque holding portion to form a retaining seat for initial plaques, means to retain an initial plaque in said seat, and interchangeable plaques each having a body and side portions, the side portions of the plaques being constructed and arranged for interlocking engagement upon theplaques being positioned in said seat, said plaques being curved transversely to provide clearance between the seat and the middle portions of the plaques.

DAVID KAHN. 

